22 seconds of weightlessness – experiments in free fall

In May 2026, Lucas Kowal travelled to Bordeaux. It wasn’t the region’s famous wines or the impressive historic centre that drew the 27-year-old to this city in south-western France. The Cottbus native travelled to Bordeaux to experience weightlessness.

From student to researcher

Lucas Kowal completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering at the Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg. He wrote his Master Thesis at the department where he has been working as a research assistant since early 2026.

“The mix of theoretical and experimental work, and the academic freedom to contribute my own ideas and work on current topics – that’s what excites me about this job,” says the 27-year-old, speaking about his work at the BTU. He is further motivated by the fact that he can communicate research findings in an accessible way, thereby inspiring students to take an interest in the subject.

Experiments in zero gravity

In May 2026, Lucas Kowal joined the flight team of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Egbers, Head of the Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, for the first time. The team regularly takes part in research flights in France, where they conduct research in zero gravity. On board, experiments such as so-called rectangular and cylindrical plate-gap experiments are carried out.

“I personally work on the rectangular plate gap experiment. This consists of three chambers. The outer plates have different temperatures. In the middle chamber, flow phenomena are investigated and visualised,” says Lucas Kowal, explaining his key research area. The flows in the central chamber are triggered by a high-voltage alternating electric field and observed by measuring heat flux and temperature. “This technique can be used to optimise heat exchangers, in particular in satellite technology, as heat transfer is limited in space,” adds the 27-year-old.

“It feels as though you could fly.”

During the hypergravity phase before and after the weightlessness phase, the people on board are pressed into the floor of the aircraft with twice their body weight. “This sensation is comparable to strong acceleration,” explains Lucas Kowal.
Afterwards, the transition into the weightlessness phase is continuous. “The sensation is indescribable and unlike anything else. No forces act on the body. It feels as though you could fly.”
To carry out experiments, Lucas Kowal and his colleagues have to hold on to the walls. For free-floating, there was a small compartment in the aircraft padded with extra-thick mats.

“I really enjoyed the parabolic flights and am very grateful to be one of the few people who have been able to experience weightlessness,” says Lucas enthusiastically. He is already looking forward to his next parabolic flights.

Background: What is a parabolic flight?

During a parabolic flight, an aircraft performs a wave-like manoeuvre reminiscent of a rollercoaster. When the aircraft climbs steeply and then drops from the highest point of the curve, complete weightlessness is created inside for around 20 to 25 seconds. Usually 30 to 40 parabolas are flown per flight. This allows researchers to test experiments for space in a relatively cost-effective manner.